Lawn-trimmer.



H0. $42M). Patented Jan. 30, I900. W. LUKE.

LAWN TRIMMER.

(Application filed Dec. 20, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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STATES PATEN rricn.

"WILLIAM LUKE, OF SAN ANTONIO, T JXAS.

LAWN TRllVIiVIER.

SIECIFIGATIDN forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,140, dated January30, 1900.

Application filed December 20, 1898. Serial No. 699,829. (No model.)

To (tZZ 2072,0712 it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM LUKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Lawn- Trimmer, of which the following is aspecilication.

My invention relates to improvements in lawn-trimmers or grass-cutters;and one object in view is to provide a simple, efficient, and cheapconstruction by which a person is able to cut the edge of alawn or totrim shrubbery without assuming the inconvenient and tiresome posturewhich is necessary with ordinary hedge-shears.

A further object is to provide means by which the handles may beadjusted at a proper angle to the shears to suit the convenience of theoperator and to provide a simple and easily-operated locking contrivancefor securely holding the handles in the positions to which they may beadjusted.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for positivelyarresting the opening movement of the handles, and thereby prevent theleverage of the handle-bars from straining the spring of the shears.

Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combinationof elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, which willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated thesame in the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification,and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lawntrimmerconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an inverted orbottom plan View. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2. Fig. i is a vertical cross-section on the plane through thepivots of the hangers. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of theadjustable shears-hangers. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of theshoe-support. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the arrestingstop for thehandlebars.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in eachof the several figures of the drawings.

In my invention I employ ordinary shears 10, that are commonly used fortrimming hedges or the edges of lawns, as well as for horticultural workgenerally. These shears 1O consist of the blades 11, the shanks 12, andthe bowed spring 13, all of the usual or any preferred construction; andin adapting my improvements to shears of this type I have arranged thesupporting devices for the handle-bars in a manner to operate the shearsby an opening-and-closing movement of the handle-bars and have arrangedthe supportingwheel shoe at a point on the shears where it will not beinterfered with by the handlebars.

For the purpose of connecting the handlebars to the shears I employ thehangers 14 15. The hanger 14 is made from a plate of metal which is bentor doubled upon itself to provide the clip 16 at the lower end of thehanger, and in the upper end of said hanger is a pivot-hole 17, adaptedto receive a bolt, by which the hanger is pivotally attached to one ofthe handle-bars. The other hanger 15 is a broad plate, which isconsiderably wider than the hanger 14, and the lower edge of theplate-like hanger 15 is bent to form the offset 15, which is adapted toembrace one shank of the shears. This broad plate-like hanger has aclamping-plate 18 applied to one side thereof, and this clamping-plateis bent or curved at its lower edge, so as to bear against oneshear-shank on the opposite side from the ofiset lower edge of theplate-hanger 15, and the clamping-plate 18 is fastened securely to thehanger 15 by transverse bolts 19, whereby the hanger and the plate maybe attached firmly to one shank of the shears, while the other hanger 14may have its clip 16 engage with the other shank of the shears. Thebroad plate-hanger 15 is formed near its front edge with a transversepivot-hole 20, and the rear edge of the hanger is arc-shaped, as at 21,the are being struck from the axis of the pivot-hole 20. Near thearc-shaped edge of the hanger is a series of transverse apertures 22,adapted to receive a latch pin or bolt, whereby the hanger 15 isconstructed for pivotal attachment to one handle-bar for adjustment todifferent positions thereon, and it may be locked in its adjustedposition by a latch, which may engage with either one of the series ofapertures 22.

The handlebars of my invention are indicated at 23 24, and these barsmay be from four feet to four and a half feet long", or any otherdesired length to suit the convenience of the operator. The handle-barscross one another at a point near their lower ends, and to enable thebars to be fitted compactly together diagonal recesses 25 are out in theopposing faces of the bars in a manner to secure the overlapping thereofand to permit of a limited pivotal movement of the bars one upon theother sufficient for the operation of the shears. The handle-bars arepivoted together by a transverse fulcrum-bolt which passes through therecessed overlapped portions of the bars, and the head and nut of thisfulcrum-bolt bear upon metallic reinforcementplates 27, that arefastened to the outer faces of the bars. The bar 23 has its lower endformed with a recess 28 on the inner edge or face thereof, and this endof the bar, as well as its recessed face, is protected against splittingand abrasion by the hanger 14 by means of a metallic wear-plate 29,which is bolted securely in place on the bar. The upper perforated endof the hanger 14 is fitted in the recessed face of the bar and itswear-plate, and a pivotal bolt 30 passes through the opening 17 of thehanger and through the handlebar to pivotally and securely attach thehanger 14 to said bar 23. The other handlebar 24 has a recess 31 formedtherein, which is longer and deeper than the recess 28 in the bar 23,and this recessed end of the handlebar is protected in like manner by aguide and wear strap 32. The strap 32 is bent to accurately conform tothe contour of the handle-bar 24 and its recess 31, and said strap isfurthermore doubled upon itself to form the guide-clip 33, whichreceives the arc-shaped edge of the hanger 15. This hangeris appliedlaterally to the recessed face and strap of the handle-bar 24, and itis'pivotally mounted thereon by a bolt 34, which passes through theopening 20 of the hanger and the bar 24. A latch-pin 35 is looselyfitted in an opening provided transversely in the bar 24 and the strap32 thereof in a position to coincide with either of the openings 22 inthe hanger, thus enabling the latch-pin to engage with and fasten thehanger 15 at any point of its adjustment. The latch-pin is notched at 36to receive the forked end 39 of a spring 38, which is applied laterallyto the handle-bar 24 and is secured thereon by the fastening-bolt 34;and this spring serves to normally impel the latch-pin into engagementwith the apertured hanger, while theend of the latch-pin projects asuitable distance beyond the bar 24 to be grasped readily by theoperator.

It will be observed that the hangers are attached to the handle-bars andthe shanks of the shears in a manner to transmit the opening and closingmovement of the handlebars to the blades of the shears for the purposeof operating the latter, and as the hangers are pivotally connected tothe handle-bars the latter may be raised or lowered within certainlimits to suit the convenience'of the operator, the latch-pin serving tohold the handle-bars securely in their adjusted positions.

In order to prevent the handle-bars from opening the shears to such anextent as to unduly strain or break the bowed spring of the shears, Iemploy a stop-bail 40, which embraces the handle-bars at a suitabledistance above the fulcrum 26 thereof. As shown by Fig. 7, thisstop-bail is bent from a single piece of wire to have a short loop 42formed at one end thereof, while its other end is bent to form a longloop 41, each end of the wire embracing the long bar of the bail. Theloop 42 is fitted around the handle-bar 23 and is re-' ceived in a clip43, which is fastened to said handle-bar 23 on the outside thereof. Theother end of the bail 40 is fitted around the handle-bar 24 for thepurpose of allowing said handle-bar to have the necessary movementwithin the bail, and said end of the bail is received slidably in aguide-plate 44, which embraces the bar 24 and serves to hold the bail 40in proper position on the handle-bar and to prevent abrasion or wearthereof. The stop-bail may be applied to the handle-bars at a properdistance from the fulcrum 26 thereof, so as to limit theoutward oropening movement of the bars, and thus the shears are prevented frombeing strained by thebars to such an extent as to injure or break thebowed spring thereof.

In order to sustain the shears above the ground and to present theblades ata proper angle to secure maximum efficiency in trimming thegrass, I employ a wheel-shoe,which is attached to the bowed spring ofthe shears and is adapted to travel on the ground. This wheel-shoe ismounted in a supporting-plate 45, which is provided with horizontalspaced arms 46, which receive between themselves the wheel 47. The arms46 serve to support the shaft or axle 48 of the wheel 47, which occupiesthe space within the bowed spring and between the planes of theshear-shanks. The supporting-plate 45 is applied in a Vertical positionto the central part of the bowed spring, and this plate cooperates witha clamping-plate 49, that is applied against the opposite face of theshear-spring. The clamping-plate has a bent tongue 50,which is adaptedto be inserted between the spaced arms 46 and embrace the lower edge ofthe supportin g-plate 45 and the shear-spring, and the upper end of thisclamp-plate is fastened to the plate 45 by means of a bolt 51, whichpasses through said plates 45 49 at a suitable distance above the edgeof the shear-spring. It is evident that the plates 45 49 may be clampedfirmly on the shear-spring to properly support the wheel-shoe 47, andthe supporting means for this shoe may be adjusted vertically for alimited distance to vary the angle of the shear to the ground.

The shears may be detached from the hangers and the operating-handles,and the support for the wheel-shoe may be removed from IEO theshear-spring, thus enabling the shears to be detached from theirsupporting and operating devices and permitting said shears to be usedin an ordinary manner by hand.

One of the importantadvantages of my construction is that thelocking-bolt or latch-pin 35 may be detached and the hangers may beturned on the handle-bars for the purpose of inverting the blades of theshears over and upon the handle-bars,whereby the shears may be thrownout of active position and into compact relation to the handle-bars forthe purpose of conveniently carrying the implement without danger ofcutting the operator or of storing the implement away in a small space.

Changes may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts,while their es,- sential features are retained and the spirit of theinvention embodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the preciseform of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. Inalawn-trimmer, the combination with shears, of pivoted handle-bars,hangers attached to said handle-bars and attached to the shears, and ashoe supported on the sh earsspring, substantially as described.

2. In a lawn-trimmer, the combination with shears, of handle-barspivoted together, hangers clamped to the members of the shears andpivoted on the respective handle-bars, a locking device carried by oneof the handlebars and engaging with a hanger, and a shoe supported onthe heel of the shears; said hangers, the shears and the shoe beingfoldable on the handle-bars by turning the hangers on their pivotalconnection to said bars, substantially as described.

3. In a lawn-trimmer, the combination with shears and pivotedhandle-bars, of a hanger pivoted to one of the bars and embracing oneshank of the shears, another hanger provided with apertures and pivotedon the other handle-bar, a clamping-plate attached to the hanger andcoacting therewith in engaging with the other shank of the shears, and alatch mounted on the handle-bar and engaging with the perforated hanger,substantially as described.

4;. In a lawn-trim mer, the combination with shears and pivotedhandle-bars, of a strap applied to one of the handle-bars and having aguide-clip, a perforated hanger pivoted on said handle-bar and fitted inthe clip of the strap, a locking device engaging with said hanger andthe handle-bar, means for attaching the hanger to one shank of theshears, and another hanger pivoted to the other handie-bar and engagingwith the other shank of the shears, substantially as described.

5. In a lawn-trimmer, the combination of handle-bars pivoted together,independent hangers clamped to the handle-bars to par- -take of themovement thereof, spring-shears having the members fastenedindependently to said hangers, and a shoe attached to the heel of theshears between the members thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a lawn-trimmer, the combination with shears and pivotedhandle-bars connected therewith, of a clip attached to one handlebar, aguide-plate fitted to the other handlebar, and a stop device having aloop engaged by the clip and another loop which is slidably fitted tothe guide-plate and arranged to limit the relative movement of thehandle-bars when opened, substantially as described.

7. In a lawntrimmer, the combination with shears and handle-barsconnected therewith, of a supporting device clamped adjustably to thebowed spring of the shears, and a wheel-shoe supported by the devicewithin the shears, substantially as described.

8. In a lawn-trimmer, the combination of handle-bars pivotally joined ata point intermediate their extremities, a spring-shears having means foroperatively connecting the respective blades thereof to said handle-barson one side of the pivot of the latter, and a stop device connected tothe handle-bars on the opposite side of the pivot thereof from theshear-connecting means, said step device comprising the short loopsnugly fitting one handlebar, and a long loop slidably fitted to theopposite handlebar to arrest the play of said bars within the limits ofthe spring of said shears.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LUKE.

Witnesses:

EARL Sco'rT, Tries. JOHNSON.

